Stands out from other cover letters , specific to you and specific to the position at hand. Relate your specific skill sets and previous experience to the programme you are applying for. If you are asked to write a cover letter, make it sure it is brief, and you include the following details: you do not need to try to answer your research question, just provide an outline of why you want this place, and what qualifications, skills and work experience make you so well suited to it. The requirements for a personal statement are similar, but vary slightly in that it is more 'personal'. If you are completing a phd application, you may be required to write a personal statement. As experts in this area, we've put together a guide to help you get started and complete a final draft for this important part of the application process. Typically you will be allowed around 1 side of a4 to say why you think you should be accepted on to the course.

Sometimes you will just be asked to provide a statement that supports your application, though at other times you will be given more of a description of what to include. For example, if you are applying for a pgce course: describe briefly your reasons for wanting to teach giving the relevance of your previous education and experience, including teaching, visits to schools and work with other young people. there will be times when you are not given any clear indication of what you should include in your statement, so we’ve written some guidelines to help you put together a well structured statement. Before starting to write your first draft of your personal statement, use the points below as a guide. Try to put together a paragraph of 2 or 3 sentences for each question, as this will help you construct a good personal statement that focuses on what the reader is interested to find out. Therefore it’s important to research each university and what’s involved in each project so you can see what is unique about each of your choices, and how they each stand apart from the others.

don't underestimate how difficult it can be to write a good personal statement that will do you justice. use good vocabulary and grammar – using well written sentences that flow easily will make your statement more fresh and dynamic compared to other applicants. do not use overly long sentences. try to keep the tone of your statement positive and enthusiastic. You also need to demonstrate you are able to make the points required in a concise manner, and make sure you adhere to the word limit. When you've completed your final draft, make sure you use the spelling and grammar checker on your computer to correct any mistakes.

The aim of the introduction is to grab the reader’s attention and hold it so they remain interested and read to the end of your statement. In the main body of the statement you should concentrate on relating your skills, knowledge and experience in the field and how this relates to the course you are applying for. When you think your statement is as good as you can make it, ask a few friends or family members to take a look at it and see if they can suggest any improvements. Print off a copy of each statement you write as what you have written will probably be referred to in your interview. The following is a list of areas you could potentially cover in your statement: why you want to do this particular course/study this particular area of research – write down your reasons why you are interested in and enthusiastic about pursuing further study into the field. Convey your motivation and mention any relevant projects, dissertations or essays that demonstrate your skills. You should also mention any prizes or awards you have, plus any relevant travelling experiences or time spent studying abroad.

why you want to study this particular subject – make it clear why you have chosen the subject – e.g. Ability to work as part of a team communicate effectively with others organisation and time management, etc. Give examples of how you have demonstrated each of these skills, as this shows that you have considered all your strengths and potential weaknesses.

Place emphasis on your strengths and show how you are a better candidate than any others. relevance of your undergraduate degree to the course – describe how any work you did as part of your degree relates to the course you are applying for, and what foundation in knowledge it has laid for further study. career aims – although you may not have a concrete idea of what career path you hope to follow after completing your phd, you should at least have some ideas that you can put down for your statement. For example, do you think you will want to continue working in academia, either in research or teaching? or do you see yourself working in industry? having an idea of which direction you would like to go in will show more commitment to the course, and show that you are likely to get good results.

try to make it unique one way you can make your statement stand out is to relate a detailed example of something specific to your own experience, e.g. Something that influenced your decision to pursue a particular undergraduate degree, or career path. Remember that for each point you make in your statement, always provide an example to back it up. If you are applying for a masters in biotechnology, saying you are a good scientist isn't enough give examples of your previous laboratory experience, any projects you have completed and what technical skills you have learned. There's nobody else who knows you and your experiences as well as you do, so you are the best person to write your personal statement in order to present yourself in the best possible light. You may wish to ask yourself this question – could my personal statement apply equally to, say, my friend or my neighbour? if the answer is yes then it is probably too general and you need to make it more specific and more personal. For academic jobs you will typically be asked to send any or all of the following: application form cv cover letter research statement teaching statement more common in the us than the uk before starting to put together your application materials, think carefully about the position you are applying for.

Groupon Hiring Writers

The answers to the following questions should influence how you present yourself on paper: what is the balance between research and teaching? will i be working on someone else rsquo s research or my own independent research? is the position fixed term/contract or permanent/open ended? if possible try to also find out more about the position using either the contact given in the job advert or your own contacts. Try to find out why the position is being advertised for example, has someone retired? and a bit about what they are expecting from their new hire, such as to teach existing courses or develop new ones. Length is unimportant ndash can run to several pages list items in reverse chronological order within sections most recent at top don rsquo t need personal details such as photo, gender, marital status use simple, easy to read formatting and layout avoid institution specific terminology e.g. The codes of courses you rsquo ve taught if you are applying outside lse

section headings

these are typical section headings for academic cvs. You don rsquo t need to use all of them ndash if something is not appropriate for your cv leave it out: name and contact details research areas education research positions/academic appointments awards and research grants teaching experience publications conference presentations organisational and administrative experience professional affiliations/memberships additional skills e.g. Languages, it references

presenting publications

it rsquo s crucial to present your publications clearly as this section will be one of the most important on your cv. You should: include lsquo in preparation rsquo or lsquo planned rsquo publications within reason and state which journal you plan to submit them to and if possible when be clear about the status of other publications e.g.

Lsquo under review rsquo , lsquo accepted for publication rsquo separate out different types of publication. The highest impact publications for an academic selection panel are likely to be any peer reviewed journal papers.

example cvs

below are some examples of successful academic cvs that have been kindly donated by lse phd students.